Monday, March 12, 2012

Selection Sunday Recap

If you do not hear your name called, theres always the other half-dozen tournaments you can join

Ok! Finally, the brackets have been announced and 68 teams start to map out their travel plans for this upcoming week. Number One Seeds were given to Kentucky (South), Syracuse (East), UNC (Midwest) and Michigan State (West). The Big East Conference has the most teams in the field with nine. Now, lets recap the weekend and look forward to the start of the craziest three weeks of the year.

ACC
Florida State has proven to be a "giant killer" of sorts this season, knocking off UNC for the ACC Tournament crown and beating UNC and Duke twice in one season. Florida State is joined in the NCAA Tourney by ACC members: UNC, Duke, Virginia and NC State. Left out from the field of 68 from the ACC you could argue Miami (FL). Look for UNC, Florida State, and Duke hanging around past the first weekend.

Big 12
Missouri raced past Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game winning the tournament in its last season as a member of the conference (joining the SEC). The Tigers were awarded a 2 seed in the West Region and had a strong argument for a #1 seed. Mizzou is joined by Kansas, Baylor, Kansas State, Iowa State, and the Longhorns of Texas. Look for the Tigers, Jayhawks, and Bears hanging around to see week 2 of the NCAA tournament.

Big East
The Louisville Cardinals ran off 4 wins in 4 days to win the Big East Tournament Championship over the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Cardinals are seeded as a number 4 seed out West, and look to ride the wave of winning the Big East tournament (i.e. UCONN last season) for a possible run to the Final Four and beyond. Louisville is joined in the "Big Dance" by Big East members Syracuse, Marquette, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UCONN, South Florida, and Georgetown. Seton Hall was left out of the tourney, having their bubble bursted. Look for Louisville, Syracuse, Marquette, and Cincinnati to advance to the 2nd week of the "Big Dance".

Big Ten
Well, in a hard fought Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan State was able to make a few more plays on the offensive end to beat the Buckeyes of Ohio State in the rubber match between the two teams. With the win, the Spartans were rewarded with the #1 seed out in the West region and Ohio State was awarded the number 2 seed in the East. Joining the top two teams from the Big Ten in the NCAA tourney are Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Purdue. Northwestern again was left out of the NCAA tourney and once again had their bubble burst. The Big Ten should get Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State into the Sweet 16.

Pac 12
What a pathetic display for a big name conference. The Pac 12 tournament champion, Colorado Buffalo are seeded as a #11 seed and the only other team from the conference to get a invite to the dance has to play in one of the play-in games in Dayton, #12 seeded California. I see both teams losing their opening games. The regular season champ Washington Huskies, along with Oregon and Arizona were left out after being on the bubble the last week of the season. Here's to the Pac 12 not being this bad in seasons to come.

SEC
In an upset, Vanderbilt was able to knock off the #1 Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC Championship Game. Vandy along with Kentucky, Florida, and Alabama will represent the SEC Conference in the NCAA Tournament. Mississippi State looked like the team from the SEC to get its bubble bursted on Selection Sunday. Now, out of these teams look for Kentucky and Vanderbilt to advance into the 2nd week of the tournament.

That pretty much puts a wrap on the Conference Tournament Recap. Good Luck to everyone filling out your brackets and if you want let me know and I will post your Final Four picks up on the blog Tuesday and/or Wednesday and make sure to give you a S/O.